American Atheist Magazine First Quarter 2013

7/28/2019 American Atheist Magazine First Quarter 2013

1/48ATHEISTS .ORG FIRST QUARTER 2013

American Atheists A JOURNAL OF ATHEIST NEWS AND THOUGHT

AmericAn Atheist


2/48

Freeing your mind from religion and theism is not the end of the story.

Its only the beginning.

Members of The Clergy Project know that letting go of god was the easy part. The real

challenges come when you have to tell spouses, children, and extended family.Couple this with the harsh reality of finding a job in the secular world, when all youveever done is Gods work.

The Clergy Project, managed and operated by member volunteers, exists to helpovercome these challenges.

But you dont need to be a member to make a difference today.

The Job Board links members with employers looking for excellent interpersonaland program management skills. If you are looking to hire, write to us atjobs@mail.

clergyproject.org.

The Therapist Project, operated by Recovering From Religion, helps members find

professional emotional support from qualified psychologists, therapists, and counselorscommitted to a secular approach. If youd like to be on the list of providers, go toSecularTherapy.org.

Hardship and Education Grants help members transition to secular life. To make acontribution online, go to ClergyProject.org and see How Can I Contribute? right onthe home page.

Send a contribution by mail to:

The Clergy Project

c/o Freedom From Religion FoundationPO Box 750Madison, WI 53701

The Clergy Projectc/o The Richard Dawkins Foundation for Reason and Science US2776 South Arlington Mill DriveBox 815

Arlington, VA 22206

Contact us [email protected]


3/48www.atheists .org | AMERICAN ATHEIST | 31st QUARTER 2013

In This IssueSeth Andrews is Deconverted |Pamela Whissel

Through the Catholic Encyclopedia |Michael B. Paulkovich

Ages of Atheism: Part Two |James Luce

The Power of Coming Out |J.T. Eberhard

Gods Work: Opus Dei and the Knights of Malta |W.E. GutmanVoices of Reason Rally: Jamila Bey

David Petraeus, Spiritual Fitness Guru|Paul Loebe

American Atheists Sues the IRS

Times Square Billboard

Science Interview: Dr. William Irons |Ce Atkins

Gods Non-Existence Makes Sense |Phil Torres

Size Counts |Rick Wingrove

Paul Kurtz Remembered |Ed Buckner

Religion and Grief|David G. McAfee

Ten Commandments Removed from0BL MBO EZoo|Larry Hicok

American Atheists Goes Green

In Memoriam: Conrad Goeringer |Frank Zindler

Above:T Sqvw f ft f Ac Atht bllbCv ctfl: Ac Athts bllb T Sq

Pht by Mchl Da

Photo by John Welte

AMERICAN ATHEISTA Journal of Atheist News and Thought

1st Quarter 2013Vol. 51, No.1

ISSN 0516-9623 (Pt)ISSN 1935-8369 (Ol)

EDITOR-IN-CHIEFPamela Whissel

[email protected]

AMERICAN ATHEIST PRESSMANAGING EDITOR

Frank R. [email protected]

LAYOUT AND GRAPHICS EDITORRick Wingrove

[email protected]

Published byAmerican Atheists, Inc.

Mailing Address:P.O. Box 158

Cranford NJ 07016Phone: 908.276.7300FAX: 908.276.7402www.atheists.org

2013 Ac Atht Ic.

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COPY EDITOR AND PROOFREADERKaren Reilly


4/484 | AMERICAN ATHEIST | www.atheists.org 1st QUARTER 2013

Letterfrom theEditor

O y g I bg y ltt wth Dg g th Htch . Chth Htch h jt , I kw tht w

h lt th qvlt f y th fght f chch/tt t cvl ght f blv. Svl tl tht v thgh thy h v t h, thy flt lk thy lt f bc vc thy h lt t (I y lgly?) w g. Htch w lbly bllt Dg g th Htch w y w c t h tch blty wth w ly. H w l blltly lbl. Tht th w wg bll wll bc

th bg h tht fllg th w tht wll g l w ll k , Wht wl Htch y?

I ctlly ct w tht qt wth ch cfc. F tt, ythg tht cc t wl v b w wll. WhI c b cft bt, hwv, th w vc tht hv gc th g v th t y tht wll ct t b t f thgz. Tk T McB, f xl. Wh Htch , h w tll th t f Mtht chch Fl. At th f Mch hc t Atht t tl cvt fw th lt bc Ac Atht blc lt ct. Wh I tch th lt , I tht f h ht c lg, Ac Atht wl hv h t vt h. Bt I tht jt bc AcAtht t gzt tht t vt bg wh t g t b t. Rl l, wth l t, fth , th gh.

I h hw ght I w tl I h f Pl Lb. H th w M l Mlty Dct Jt Gffth. H cl bg Atht th lty (h ctly ly) bt g 20 wll b gl ft. Lk T, h w tll th clt yg, bt lk h, h h th w th Athtywh. Hll b tlkg bt tht ft cl.

I l h th l th t y f wkg wth Sth Aw. A I w clg th R Rlly , I c c h v f thvt ThThkgAtht.c. I w blw wy by hw h ct th f tht y, h gly llw t tcb f tht v f th gz. I l t ft h cg-t ty g 6.

Bc f th th bf th wh th bv c t c t, T, Pl, Sth ll f cty t th th th clt . Bt t th fllwh t thy f ghtflly v, lvg th ctv lg h c t c fch f th. A bc thy tht c, th l, wh wl tll b th clt f t wt f hg th t, wll flly lvth clt.

It w l y g tht Ac Atht w l bkt f th ft t. Th h v b gz wth th w Ath th ttl t hlf th cty tl th. A w tht th , t t ty th f lg. It w llg t tw. It y htht ft g th , Atht tll th clt t tht thy t hv t ty th f lg th.

Pl W [email protected]



On August 20, American Atheists unveiled a logo to commemorate the 50th anniversaryof its founding by Madalyn Murray OHair. The design was chosen through a competition

judged by select staff members. Participants were challenged to address specific designelements, including use of the original American Atheists logo, while incorporating a forward-looking stance as the organization moves ahead into the next fifty years and beyond. The

winner, Carbon Red Designs, will receive $250 and an official introduction by PresidentDavid Silverman during the convention.


6/48



When you refer to your childhoodindoctrination, it makes me think of anextremely fundamentalist upbringing. Wasthat the case?

My fth c f cvtvLth bckg, bt lft thtt t bc wlvw tht, f Ih t t w, w bbly cltt Btt. My th w th ctf th Ptctl chch, ght wt th blf kg tg. Itw l , bt t gv lt ql tt f bth clt, th tg w ft ff t bt.

How did they decide which church toattend as a family?

W tt chch, bt t fly, t glly. My fthff f f hg l,

ttg chch fly th wl t f 90 t wthtbg bl t h w f th .My t l h thck lgvcbly, t t chch ftg t fc xt fth t g.

So you were essentially home-churched?My blg I w tll

cg t tt wh, fw t tht, th lttv w t f Sy g tlv

ch f Rbt Schll tKth Cl t th lcl tt Bt Av Mtht Chch Tl. It w hg-g f ct, bty t w lly cl by, y tcct y fl tbl tchgcg t f th T V.

What about school?I w ll f blc chl ft th

g bc I c h y thty h wth y t wht I hl bt Nthl . S f fth

g, thy ll t Tl ChtSchl Bk Aw, Oklh. It w ty vt tttwth tttbg vy t w. Th c ctt lck f th by h f th gl. Th lycctbl cl w , wht bl. W

w tght ct fct, ght lghty, th, cc. Tht lc wltlly bh, t w cltlylt f th t wl.

F th ffth g thgh y jy f hgh chl, I tt EtwBtt Schl, l tffy, tvt chl, wh t cl 1985, Ifh hgh chl bck th bh.

When did the doubt begin?Nt tl lth. Y , whl I w

twly cg t k qt, y w fll t th w cff ct, th w w tlyc fl tchg. Dbt w t th vy lt, th whg f St

y . W w ft tl th tyf Dbtg Th Jh 20, wthTh bt bg, f c, xl t fllw.

I w t hg y Fthkw bt f thg t k. I c h cfcl ggt tht blv hlltlly blk wy bt, bcblkg tt y t f thghtcflctg wth G W. Th f gl v w thkbl.

Th ft l f bt wlt y w lf ft th 1997

th f Cht gwt RchMll. A th ht f lgg hw KXOJ-FM TlI w chg y t f lt tht Mll h b tt f h J hbly kll th hghwy by cg tck. A k w f cft t lt cll, I tggl t ccl tht tht th G f Mtthw 10, th wh c wth th y w, wl g b th tkg f Mll thly lf

ch tl, g Why wl G l Rch Mllt th tlght ly t lg

ll f f t g lv hfly f t gv v clckt? A wl th fl v hv bcy f Rch h ly b wg h

tblt?

How did you come to be a Christian broadcaster?I wt t wk th fl f CtyCht Mc (CCM), 1990,

I was glued to the monitor as Christopher Hitchens fearlesslyskewered the god I had been trained never to question.



l f c t t KXOJ qckly vc f t-t wk t b th g hw ht. Iw wth th f c th jCl Chl Tl l- f fwy. I wt t wk tht fl bcI lv th c, tt, th clt, th tht bct, I w hlgCht ch l.

Did you do anything with that doubt at first?Nt t ft. Th c j vt t

h tl Stb 11, 2001. I hv t cht vt t tht y y

bk, bt f fc t t y tht y cglyc w lt by th tyg-k g th t f thfll tw, th w, tht tht th cg w ly Gwy f chtg bll t. I lkt th th b, I t Gywh.

Aft 9/11 h ttl ylg cg, y fth wt t k f t, t h.Th gg f bt th bck fy h h lf t fll-

, bt I cttlzy qt kt th k f tl tg. Dbtw lwy th, bt I fc th thg.

It w c-t, lly.I w kg th w fChtty, bt I t ttchch y bc t cl. I ll tcbt tlty wth k fbl, gl ttt: S,th ct t k , bt

ly G l. Nw lt tlkbt thg l.

What brought the full-on siren outof mental storage?

Bc f y ctv th chchI v bct c, I wt cflctg wth t.I w t fc t

th lt t ll f fflct,ltcl tg, th ccl cl.I wtch l, lgly ct btth w hly bk, glly hll t tf th h- c xchg f f blg fv f bv.I w fth hw chch t ktg ch, tvg t lt tht ttctv lt f cl clt t c th ttc, c, flc.

Ulttly, I bv tht human beingsw g ll f th wk, vkg Gbt bvly fctg th c--

ffct wl f h bl hlt. Th l w g thfft flwy ch, g g, lg-w y, bt th ww gt k th fct tht thy w g llf th hvy lftg. G wt th c-lt.G wt v th vhcl.

I vtlly tbl t YTbv f Chth Htch. I w gl tth t h flly kw th g Ih b t v t qt. I h v ch lk h, lghtgv tck h f bv, I f ylbl t tt kg qt y w. F th ft t y lf, I th Bbl bjctvly wtht flt. Itw lk g ct f th ft t; thctc, th blh, th whlg ctcty lft wth ht f qt.

Whom did you approach with these questionand what kind of response did you get?I c t t th qt

t th xt y w ccl, bt thcl, lzy, ft ffv wI cv ly v fth f blfTh lgt chg t f G W

ctlly ll tw lttly t ty. Evylg chg wl bc tty f t vt thft, t vfy th clgt lgtt cc

hty, vbly, th clf Chtty vz thwht-ht lght f cty.

Ctly, thy h Thy ttt t bg bckt th fty f th fl wthth t l f lgwy. Thy cl tht thctfc cty w ly tl f St. Thy tqt whch v tht l f l cl f Nh k. Thy t lk

bt vythg f th Shf T t Htl, t tclbt th glgc cl bt hcy. A, c, wh ll l fl, thycl tht Chtty bc thy c h xc.

Htly, t tk y f tg th cg t v challengeth Bbl t f y yth. I

It took years for me to gain the courage toeven challenge the Bible stories of my youth.

Seth Andrews and Tim Buckholtz at Reason Rally



Continued p. 35

c t t htl tt cg t f lg-t c. I th v, th tgtwk f l, tly ht f b, gb th gl, v th y. Ofc, l lf, th lc. Egcf c tk y, v wk, wthth tt ft ly glly cc vy t. Th wht ggf lg lk f y. Achvg tlcty ft tk lt f t , yc, l tc f th tly hv th tgth t t y w.

When did you eventually feel that strength?A y bt c t ctcl , I t

j t xcl, Hy! Th ll c!I ttgz tht t ght b bt t tt wthqt, I tt t th twth yt. Obvly, ft vlly f l,thy gt w t th vy l tggl I wgg thgh tly wt t

c . I t y th w Athtt th tl lt 2008, bt thy bbly wth t cg.

What was their reaction?Of c, thy w ct t

bhtbk. I cltly thw ffclt t t b f t t ch t y c g ttt t tct blv chlf hll. My t cfc ch tk th fth; t tkch tc blc t gt th

vl h t lth f y.Ev wh lg t t t ll, tth lht th . It ft lkth w k l th th lltlk tht k th.

Youve also sacrificed a great deal in order tobe true to yourself.

I hvt cfc ch c t y th wl, bt y ty h th lt fw y l gtlt f ffclttt. It k y w ht ch tkw wht y t gg thgh, bt

I t bl ylf f th . I bl thtt tht h cvc y th fth tht th blv tf tl tt chb gfth by th vy g thy gv llgct. I bl th clt f lt tht kt f v hearingbt Rch Dwk,Dl Dtt, D Bk, S H, JyCy, Dl Pth, y th.Tht clt ly y t tct tcc f c. I bl th hy-cly

ttt f gc tht h th lf g t t t th txtc wkg t chv ly gt th ky.

Did you ever doubt your own doubt?I tggl wth th f f hll f fw

y, qtly kg ylf, Wht f I gt th wg? Thk bt th cqc!Fttly, I ct t g f yc, I ct t ct ylfbt th bvly - t f hll,th f w, w I fl f ttllbt. My ch f th tth ctly, Iv lwy tht, f J vhlf tw, Ill blc lgy fc y fft Cht bhlf. BtI t hlg y bth, cc hv th ly tly tfcty w y wly-f , I ct g vcwlg bck t th lg cc.

How did you come to establish The ThinkingAtheist?

I w tvt t tt th wbt[ThThkgAtht.c] f tw . O w t ct f thhycl lt I flt lvg Oklh, by Chtty. I wt tcct l wth th -blv.Th th w t h f thft tht I h f hlfl thh f kg th jy t f tt f th.

I wt t ty bg thg fh

t th tbl, t c cllg v t l ft wy thtw l ttg. A fl v c, I lt th th qlty th th-lt tl I ft ct l. Th w fwg g th cl, bt tly, th tI vt w vwhlg txt-ft tht y , ly wt gg gt thttt f y l.

It l Atht ccl tt tht tl wl ch l f thy w t lttlcl, ctt wth th ft ll th t tlv fl. Sc wll b thck txt-v bycty, bt I cvc tht y thcl fclft. W hl b tgth t ltbl g bl t -vvy c. I jt hbl vc vt c f th, bt I thght

I ght b bl t hv t lt btl ct

The impact has been more than subtle. I thinkyouve nailed it.

Th Thkg Atht (TTA) v l YTb. Th wkly ct c gwg, wth th 310,000 wl Nvb 400% c f th v y. AI hg t b f tf TTA bt th w jytw . F-thk llygtgth, chllgg ch th, tg

th bcg gt fcf vy gl y h th UtStt. Rlg th ffv, btth tc gwg.

What made you decide to write Deconverted?Iv b k lt f I wl v tll y

ty tl, bk f. I g wh y l t th hwkg thw, I tlly t, bt Iv c tth ccl tht y ty c cgth wh ctly vgtg th h t f lg c ct lflg

blv bt hw th chch t. l tlk lt bt y t Chtc, tc whch t fct lDeconverted tlly wlk th f th lg bbbl t bhth-c lk t Th Thkg AthtI tly f t. If t hl jt t bc bt, t ttcty, t g cg t h, y, f f f tt, wlltht wht t ll bt.

I nc hard acnfrnc ladr

suggst thatblivrs shuld

litrally blinkaway dubts.Gd wasnt

thir c-pilt.God wasnt even

in the vehicle.



Th tl f Cht bwth cl. I kw tht wtg f gz ch th- t th k f g ct-ttv th - I chg tth ch. Mcl ct f fct, tfctf gllbl . Plly, th ly cl I

blv th wht cy wh I t

x wth t.

Th gl c w hv f th Chtcl , f c, th Bbl, whlly lbltxt wth g t ll tlgy, t t tlty. Bbl fct t ft wth hty, lgc,chlgy, hyc.

If y h fc t th CatholicEncyclopedia, tk t tht th tw fth, qt lt. Th gl lt-vl

wk (1907-1912) v, lbl, gly ht gg Cht tctthght th g. Th 1986 t, fTh Nl Pblh (CE-TN) cll tlfRv Ut bt fflt wth th

gl , ch, l vl fll f

tt -cc.Th tt t f th Itct

t th CE-TN t bg ch w th hvtf tth whch v chg. Lt harvest tth tht v chg.

Through the Catholic Encyclopediawith aRed Pen

Religion has had an enormous impact on the world. In this series Michael Paulkovich examines dogmas, myths, andreligious notions, past and present, that are of interest.DOGMA WATCH

by Michael Paulkovich

My guess is that Eden is located very near Jacks beanstalk.


11/48www.atheis ts. org | AMERICAN ATHEIST | 111st QUARTER 2013

SuperstitionO cl cctly cll th Cht Bbl The Big Book ofSuperstitions and Myths. I ff th fllwg f.Illness. It y w flt f y gt ck, cl J. Y hv

, and you deserve it(Jh 5:11-14). Th Bbl l y llc f thg cll th vl, wh tlly by wth cl l (Act 10:38).

Magical Animal Encounters. Th Ol Ttt c f kbt Ftv-ty l tht th vct ly lk (N

21:9). It ght b tht J g ( Jh 3:14). Lt tfgt bt tlkg k, tlkg ky, tlkg hbby, Jh lvg gt fh - f th y, y.Prayers. Thy c chg ft vt, clg gtg lfh (.g. Mt 9:38; Mt 21:22) c tt tlct tht ll c wt (.g. 2 Ch 7:1, 2 Ch 32:20-21).Angels, Holy Water, Exorcism, Devils, Miracles, Crossing Oneself.

All f th cct tht v th g bk th ffl fll th ckty bll f yth. Th ytt CE-TNgt ch f th tt c tt wtht vc lgy.Supernatural Spirits.The CE-TNcl tht g gl

glc ttv c f vy th, th ct vl Nw Ttt v t

(37). It t tt f wh th tc gl gt(hv? l? g-gc?), bt cl glwtch v h, f h, hl y thght(37). CE-TNcl Pl 91 prooftht y t vt ylft y l chbc clt. Aft ll, wth y gl lg fth y c fly t l t k, y,

v tl th bth y ft (P 91:13)!Communion. Th Cht gt f c - Cthlc wll Pttt - hl tht f y c J bl gt y wll lv fv. Atly tht bt ll t tk. Bt,t , t t Sy ft yg y f y cll f J jc lv by t. Th CE-TNcl thtc th ft x f th whl Cht lf (198).I hv t w hw y Cht, t th fttc fount,th tg apex, jt wht thy tl: wllw th tlwf k gc g jc, lk ll th th h q. Nxt, ff t wtch ftbll ft th vc - ch truex ft f th Sbbth.

Bt wt: th tcl tbttt cl c

gl w cv f th ttl btc f b tth by th ttl btc f w t th bl f Cht, thxtl c ly g chg (583). Th cctw lgz f vl ct lg. H g w hv gt. Ft, f Egyt blf: Sll 19 f th Book ofthe Dead ff, A th hll b gv t h f k c f th g. Th hll y t t w twc; gt tct t. Th bg vl ll bf Chtty.

Y ght b fl wth th w: H wh wll t t fy by k f y bl, tht h wll b wth I wth h, th hll t kw lvt. If y fct

fl, t y b bc y hv th ct Mthc txt.1,

It lkly y hv h th l h, lghtly ltby Cht wt, c Jh 6:54 lgtclly tl f thch l Mthc Myt. Cthlc tht th thtthcty flly ct v ytcl gcl tttf th ct f c by vtg tbttt gth Fth Lt Ccl 1215.3 I th ct f hc-cCht tght t blv tht th w b hycllylclly, tlly tf t th by bl fJ. S tty ch lk cbl t .

Ath fctg t gg c: P GgyI (c. 540 604 CE) cc Jw f bg Cht kll v yct, Cht l cl tht Jw tbc wf t kll Cht.4 B th l lCht ly flt blgt t tlt by kllg th Jw. F th 12th t th 15th cty, Jw w gllycvt t Chtty by fc tht f xct. 5, 6

Exorcism. U th tt t, vl xll f . Exc t ly by y b xc ly wth f th bh cc wth fl f th R RtlCht ft H

w w v vl by vg th f (Mk 6:7) (207). A y ly kw, l lg g thght

vl w ctl tl tt. Th wh tll ty b f tbl f tl c.Holy Water. Th H2O bl by t, thby bcg ctl, by th fthfl t vk G blg (270)A chl, I h cl tht thg w blg , h w wht tht ctlly t. Atly t vlv

ctl ct, lcg thg th fv f G(77). T th y I t gt t. It lc hc-c b fBz-Ag tt, thg .

Th f k (did you know?) f hly wt, tghchfly by th : ordinary, baptismal, Gregorian, and Easter. Ow hw ch f th f b-tclly bl gfftly wh bv lct cc.

Multiple MendacitiesTh CE-TN v ltt f tg flh tht vbly t, tg ch f f qtbl vty. H bt fw.US Bill of Rights. Th CE-TN cl th cct f whch

thy t fth th Dclt f Ic whch thyb th Cttt Bll f Rght, tlly l gcct - cct ht f Cht tt (75). Thopposite t, I y w ll g; th Bll f Rght (thkg?) th tth f Cht tt. I fct, t answered andquelled Cht cttl g.

Th CE-TNg t cl th Ft At cby ll t b th bc blt tht h bg q f th kgf l lvt. Salvation th Ft At? Mthkt. Wtht bt y fvt t t, gtwll: ffrom tt g,from tlgcl ll,

Bible facts do not fit with history, logic, archeology, or physics.

Continued p. 3



Ages of Atheism:Why Its Difficult To Be An Atheist From Day One To Death

by J Lc

Part Two: School Daze

I th v fAmerican Atheist, I xl why chl fqtly ly bc lv t lg l wht w lt Atht c bt ftg

Ath th yg (Pt O: Chlh). Th c c cc blwth Ath ( th lt) tht cft t twt. A w ll cll,bty tk wth th fcty f g th lg flly f y lk t f t-lct tht. I vy l , ll tg b g

wh h zy tct vy t f th b, t.

Rebels: And We Know the Cause

Utl fw h y g, th c f gwg wfcltt by g tl by th ctl xctt thtth tt wl b bf, th. Ufttly,chl ty fc lg, g jy cll th ty, ft ltg vl c y t f th wl. Sttg g twlv, chl tt lk bb bt xct t ctlk lt. Th chty flct th lct b, wk

tll g. Th ftl ctx (th g tht llw ttlly l h) t yt ffctly vl t cttlyqll th htc l f th hlly-v lbc yt.Alct cbl f , bt th blty t hbtby lv bhv.

Mthclly, thy ft ct h th clcl c v thck ll. Thy hyclly t gh t lv h, btct fclly ff t . Thy xlly t, bt xctt clbt. Th fttg hylgcl cl fctk t tg bl gt th t, cty gl,t g th.

Bt th cky tblt lyg fl t v f

Studies have shown that the entire portion of the braindevoted to analytic thought actually shuts down completelywhile in a state of religious contemplation or ecstasy.

Athtc t c t lg . Th chl f ytv Cht wll lkly bl gt tl thty bytg vglcl Et fth th th jctgtght th blf bg. Alct bght wth qtg fth y vty f ct wll ct t fff lg blf tht tgly b t th bRbll th f f whg lttv g t q

y ftl chg hw lct b h b w chlh. Oc t bc lt, th gblty f vtg t th gl blf yt v bcggtc Atht. O th th h, th bll chl Atht t jct tly th tlly-c disbelief yg t cl c. Th chg q ftl wg f th t b c bc t t v ltvly ht t.

A lg - v Atht - ght k t th tWht th h blf g, th t ty? Ibf, wth y th l, blf bg vlyct vy c, vy t, vy ct bc, g



y th , ch blf tt, ft bltt, ytg f c ffct. F xl, f c xc ct f btlty th g tht t w G wll, th th f ch t lt th bhv th ft.

Of c, th y th vt t tht cttcv f Ath t lg th th lct bll bchclly-c bwlt. Bt c f thcl fct wll b f t Pt F: Utl Dth D U Dtbc ch vt cc lt ly thght lt lv.

Evolution vs. The Big BrainO f th fw bhv tht h-w t th h b

t bth tht ft blv vythg th t tll th. Iftt lwy by, bt thy lwy blv. Fttly, tht vlty c l lt Homo sapiens hvg th cgtvw t v bc vlty v c thy t bty.Alt ll l vlv tht th yg, clly th l,wl t f th t. Th lt f gtc t t vty wth y gv c.

H thwt th vlty v bc b hv

vl lbt cl tct tht ly tl. IWt ct lk S, Itly, t f th ctt fSth Ac, th c h g bk wth y chl,clly l, tyg wth th t wll t th tht.

Ev th Wt clt wh t hyclly th chl ff t bg chl, xct th t gt jb htlythft (f t bf), fqtly v t f wy fth ctl h t ly tt, th Wt wy t kchl ychlgclly v fclly t tht f twty thty y.

Th ct lt tht t fc wth tg gw chl wh ltly bll yt lcttly t.Wht g Athtc t t wh fc wth gw chlwh ly ytly ch g v lgc?

What We Can Be Done?S th y ttg y lvg , chttg wth f

fly. Y cv tht y , ght, c, hw, ghb tg h c Ath blv c f g. Wht y ?

A Th P , T g wth wh h c

th f lk tg c t th . Thcct wll b xl fth xt tcl, bt f w t ffct t t tht fth t tch by ct ttck. I,t hv hw tht th t t f th b vt tlytc thght ctlly ht w cltly whl tt flg ctlt cty. Lgc, hwv, t f w b t hv y ct. Jt lk thhycl b tht k hfl clt chcl wy f thb, l th lg b hv ft-w t ttchc t cgtv hghwy.

If gt ffctv fcbl tvt lbl,hw c g Atht c? A lwy th c, ft b .

As Thomas Paine said, To argue with a person who has renouncedthe use of reason is like administering medicine to the dead.

L bt th c f cv f bth by g twbk, by Cht wh cvt t Ath, th th by Atht wh cvt t Chtty. Tw g c Why ILeft the Ministry and Became an Atheist, by G. Vct Ry, Mere Christianity, by C.S. Lw.

Bg w wll v th tc, gv cy f ch bk ty wyw chl, ltv, f. If th y chc f vlg, th ctt f th bk wll tvt th tc wth y th fct tht l t cv f Ath.

If thy cc, ch cvt hl b ly qtv -jgtl, lthgh y y b bl t g cgbt y cllct f th l Ath.

Ufttly, th v/vtl lty wl, g t ffh wth y yg l. Act w c tll vl. A A fbl f th th cb tllg h ffg t t wlkwy, l tll l by wtchg th bhv f ththt thy ct. Wh tg y ctg wth chty, lv, fbc wtht y v gc vct f vtvt, thy y g g tg tht g cy g t lg g ccfl lf.

Th fft y g w y y cc. Bt thh t g wll ft ll? Th qt th g f PIII, Dy f Wh B, whch wll xl fg Ath lth gt htl wl vg t f ylf wll.

Endnotes1. B.J. Cy, Th Alct B, Wll Mcl Cllg f ClUvty Clf Ittt f Tchlgy, 2008, htt://wwwcb.l.h.gv/c/tcl/PMC2475802/

2. S, f xl, Nw Cl Rwg Y B,Psychology Today, Mch 28, 2012; th Pw F US RlgLc Svy t htt://Rlg.PwF.g/Rt Blg.SctfcAc.c/Bwv/2012/08/29/ThNcc-f-Twty-Sthg

3. A ct xl th ct by Rblc Rch Mckf I, th ft ct f US St. H tht wh w gt by t t thg G t.Htclly, w f th f xl f btlty G wll

g th Iqt th g.

4. R Ry y th bjct t htt://www.fl.g/lby/htcl/vct_y/lft_ty.htl

James Luce is the author of Chasing Davis, An AtheistsGuide to Morality Using Logic and Science. After fouyears as a criminal investigator in the US Air ForceOffice of Special Investigations, he spent 25 years as atrial lawyer. Now retired, he lives in Spain. Read moreby him at LucelySpeaking.com.



Its hard to come out of the closet.This is, of course, largely how Christianity maintains itself:

through fear.

The

Power

of

ComingOutby JT Eberhard



I

lk gg bt gxtc. I thk t ctv, I h, Iv gtt ttyct t t v th y. BtI ft gt l f lltg th blty t

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C t f th clt.Th w, I Atht, th ght

cctc, c b wflgt th ythg I hv v wtt.Fc wth wh thk Atht thlgcl t th xt, t wll tk th

bt bt t y f vlgth kll t gt tht t bg. Bttht y t b bl t thk thtth w wck, th ght, th t, th f.

Th why th cg-t vt fth LGBT cty h b ffctv.Wth gy l bg cg t ct f th clt, y Ac lzg(y f th ft t th lv) tht tly thy know gy l, bt tht thylike, ft love, gy l. Th wt lt tht vlbl v t

Rch Dwk, bt whch ttlly t th h f wth f -blv.

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bt f f cl cqc .It ct tht y Athtc t

lv tf f bg tcz f thfl, f hvg th tt vk, vf bg bt t f th h hlth t cv tht thy t blv

Ct Jw f th . Altf ttt th wk lc, vtt, hl t c t lght tht thy t h th yth th c-wk.

It h t c t f th clt. I kwy lkly f f y fc wth thchc. Y hl t.

Rlz tht t f th t hf y tht gt bf y tyqt. Wth vy Atht wh k thblf kw, lg l fc t cft th gtv t f

Atht tht hv b t th fc by th blv. Thk tly f ylf, bt l f th yg lgwg ght w wh y y fcth cl cqc. D f thwht y wh wl hv b fy. Th wht y c t t vt. I th , th wht w wllhv t t g qlty th f th Ac.

Y lf blg t y. Th cl t y ftt tht y hg t wth th.If y lv th, t h l. If thy

t lvyou, lt th lv y. Lt th lvby wh tt th wth th tth. Icl t w wth th y lvt th fllt f y blt f y , h v wy th ch clt th fct tht Ath t ctl. Bt y, tc, ght bbl t th I v cl. Th thw f hty, t c chg th wl.

I kw th y lt lg th lv f lt f l. Bt f thy lv chct thty lyg f th, f thy lv wh t y, th tht lv ly . Ikw tht hbl t h, t f

fl cl tyg t. Bt t th tth.Th l th wl, cl th

y thk, wh wll lv y f wh y tly. W hv Atht ct ttych vy tw cty th ctyw. Cg t y b ff clt, bt h

Mt.c tt Atht cfct wll qckly bc t tht y wlt hv t fc th chc l. Th v l ttg xt t y th w whh y l, bt t hv th bvytht y hv t fc t. Thy wtg f lk y t b th xl.

A, f y t f th clt, c y wk . Rch t t thclt Atht y kw t thTh hw w chg .

Th hw w chg th wl.

JTs blog, What Would JT Do?, isat Patheos.com/Blogs/WWJTD. Hepreviously worked for the SeculaStudent Alliance, where he was theifirst high school organizer. He is the co-founder of the Skepticon conference andserved as the events lead organizer foits first three years.

If you are out of the closet,dont consider your work done.

If they are

to loveyou, let

them loveyou.



by W.E. Gutman

Ot t w ctccl f fllw f, O D, GWk, h ltt, tly b. A fblly ch,ggvly ght-wg clk--gg

Cthlc gzt, t wl wftly gt th th gy thChch cb t t fvt cgt:Jw, F, Sclt.

Aw Gly, th Ac Cthlct, clgt, jlt, bt-llg th, cb t v,tctc, cty, -fctttt, tly fh f blt th Chch qt blyvy cl w t hvg tht w. Cllgth xclv g tht w-, Gly w tht O D

xtly g gzt bc tl t th lv f ccy th wlt f ct k f lg lt.It y wll b th t wfl g th Chch ty. It cbl f g t f h. It ght t bfc t f th hw .

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chl vt, bk, blhgf, tlv tt, gc, fl c. It h b ccf ctv ggv cttctc, clg lv bbg,

lbt yy hw f ffct by vl g tl f cct cv, wll tctg clbtb t f fh, tt cl

gthg, bt wtt t ttl cvt.

Th c ct f O D t hlh th wl Cthlc . Hlcl clgy, ct f ty, hghkg lty ffc, gv

ffcl. Th g c by ltcl , th Bth ly TheGuardian t ctly. Th -tlthygzt w f jt bf thSh Cvl W bl thhlcy Cthlc y fEl Caudillo, fcctt Fcc Fc c gth Rblc lft. Wh O D c tc th lt 1960, t w bcFc cbt cl tb fOpusdeistast y t b thlt f ccc.

O D, whch tv f fct

f chch tt, t b wthcl f-chg w byth G-v lgg t cl th wlf htc lv fl, lhtyby fc f cytCht lvg .

Nine Centuries of HistoryBt O D l c wth th

ltt Kght f Mlt, cl fttyf th R Cthlc Chch wh

Opus Deiarms its memberswith special and

far-reaching

powers driven

by the longing tocleanse the world

ofheretics.

Gods WorkOpus Dei and the Knights of Malta

The Filice is an open chain with spikes pointininward, worn under clothing by members Opus Dei as a form of corporal mortificatio



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y th CIA hchy, clg JhF. Ky ct, Jh McC, Rl Rg ct, Wll Cy.

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Th cllg vc tht thKght f Mlt w lk t th Rt R,th t-Wl W II gtwy t t thAc by Nz t b thc ctt f ft Gy.Th thg w w tt

cl ctl tht c fct f c gt hty.O f th, Mj Gl RhGhl, Htl Et Ft tllgcchf, t th US Ay Ct-Itllgc C 1945. Bc f hxc fl ctct th SvtU, h w f, w v f h ffc, xchg f th lgt gth tllgc f th Ut Stt.Flw t Whgt, Ghl wt t wk

f Dv Dll th f thOffc f Sttgc Svc tt chf Swtzl. Ghl h v th f vl OSS ffc wh w b fth US Ct Pty.

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fc w t bt tg. O, ccfl fltt

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llg xt th R Ay wblk by th y h h.

I ct f h wk, th Kghtf Mlt w Ghl th hghtct, th G C f Mt. (I 1988Rl Rg cv th G C fh vt t Cht cl.) Pl Ctl Ac tll b Rg th wh fl ll f tx llt v g wh US-t thq h f th ct cvl.

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lt Agt t J P whctly clf CIA ct ggt

l Nz gl thgh th VtcBk by Bc Ab, whchcll 1982. Th Vtc Bk wly

blv t hv chl cvt US f tPl Slty t tfl y f th llgl l f t I t f th Ct Ncg.

Th cl, chctz by tlcty t ccy, wlt th US Cg t ccl tht cbl f zlt (b f Rg cbt th ft Bh tt) vlt thHgh-Ry Act th Bl Aby flg t f cgl tllgcctt bt t cvt ct thMl Et Ctl Ac. (P

1974, th Hgh-Ry Act q tht f th Ut Stt t ll cvt t f th CIA t t lt Cgl ctt. Th BlAt w t t tct btw 1982 1984 ltg US tc t th CIA-fcCt Ncg). Th th whw t th y why Rl Rg wch why wt Gg H. W. Bhct f th vl f blck .

With over 10,000 members in 42 countries, theKnights of Malta are influential Vatican surrogates with

extensive ties to right-wing intelligence networks.



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1954 ght-wg lty c Gtlg whch t lt 200,000 gMy w c whch th CIAh ckwlg clcty. Sll wl lk t gz c by h lgvlvt wth Achbh Pl Mckf Chcg, f h f th Vtc Bk ct th hghly c th fP Jh Pl I th ft h lct.

Losing GroundTh Cthlc Chch lg l

qtl tt chb auto-da-

fs. It w gg ychlgcl xttby xctg ctl bc f tctfll cggt.

Gwg chtt wll hvwfl htcl cqc f thVtc chc ylg t.Vlt t t ctv ght;vc ttck f; g tcl Jwh Ilc h-l whth ftcl t-chc, t-gv,hhbc g cvg; flt cct l blty f th ltcl

c ctt by th ght-wg gt fv ll tt hw t tg th Chch h ty f lty.W, ttt t z gtlg by qtg t wth ch h tg ffct th fthfl,clly th Lt Ac wh,bb by y f cflct,lct, vt, hvt tly t wt th t ltcf th cl cltch f v lg fw.

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Sic transit gloria mundi.

W.E. Gutman is a veteran

journalist and author. From1994 to 2006 he reportedfrom Central America wherehe covered politics, humanrights, and other socio-economic issues. The foregoingis an excerpt from his autobiography,A Paler Shade Of Red: Memoirs ofa Radical, available in paperback(ISBN 978-1-927360-96-5) or as ane-book (ISBN 1-927360-96-X).

The Catholic Church no longer relies oninquisitorial torture. It now engages in

psychological extortion by exacting unconditional

obedience from its crestfallen congregants.



Voices of Reason Rally

Jamila Bey

Our past coverage of the March 24, 2012, Reason Rally on the NationalMall in Washington, DC, has been a mere glimpse of that day. So for thenext several issues, we will continue to feature the words that were spokenby some of todays greatest voices of reason.

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Jl By jlt lvg Whgt, DC. H ft bkbt th l f lg th lv f Afc-Ac w, t b clt th y.

Photo by John Welte

Please bow your heads.

Oh, wrong crowd.



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I th t w by tht t wl

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From American Atheists Marine Liaison

David Petraeus, Spiritual Fitness Guru?

by Paul Loebe

We have built a reputation and a perception that we area nation of Christians on a warpath determined to spread

not only democracy, but alsothe message of Christ.

Photo from Wiki Commons



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I f t c t b wtg th th t tht Cht ftlt DvPt, th f c f fc Afght, h g h t CIA

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Ac Atht Vc Pt Kthl

Many Iraqis I encountered also believe the U.S.military is attempting Christian dominionism in

their country. They think we are crusaders.

Paul Loebe


22/48



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cvg -ft tx-xt tt th Itl Rv C(IRC) c ft.

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th cl -ft, gfctly y ch y t ktht tt. I th lwt, Ac Atht th th ltff g tht ll tx-xt gzt, clg thchctz lg by th IRS, hv th qt tchv tx-xt tt.

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Ntl Lgl Dct Ew Kg , Rlg gzt

American Atheists Files Suit

Against the IRS

chch tt fftly f cl gzt. Thxt l wy tht ct lly th b whth tty b x blf ctc cct lg. Th IRS tt y gzt btt f y f blf tl ty.

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Pht by Rck Wgv

Churches receive preferential treatment under IRS code for 501(c)(3)s



Photo by Michael Dorian



Times Square Billboard

From December 11 to January 10,American Atheists hung a billboard inTimes Square encouraging closetedAtheists to shed their religious baggageand truly enjoy the season.

We know that a large population ofChristians are actually Atheists whofeel trapped in their familys religion.

You dont have to lie in order to have afestive holiday. You can be merry withoutthe myth, and indeed, you should, saidPresident David Silverman. If you dontbelieve in god, tell your familyhonestyis the greatest gift, and they deserve it.



Science interview SerieSTwo of the aims and principles of American Atheists, Inc., are to promote the study of the arts and sciences and of all problems affecting the maintenance, perpetuation, and enrichmen

of human (and other) life and to engage in such social, educational, legal, and cultural activity as will be useful and beneficial to members of American Atheists and to society as a whole.American Atheist supports these principles with this Science Interview Series, where some of the top scientists and thinkers in the world discuss their work with contributor Ce Atkins. In the

previous issue, Atkins talked with Robert Trivers, author of The Folly of Fools: The Logic of Deceit and Self-Deception in Human Life. For this issue, he interviewed anthropologist William Irons

Its Never SimpleThere are as many ways to study the evolution of morality as there are ways for it to evolve.

by Ce Atkins

Yomut Turkmen - Photos by William Irons

Evlty thlgt Wll I f t t Nthwt Uvty f f th Evlty Athlgcl Scty. H l ly l gzgth H Bhv Evlt Scty 1988, v t t f 2001-2003.

H y fl f ty cc th vlty fc tht h h cl bhv.

H bg h c 1965 wth ch th Yt Tk f th I. H thghc ghc t gth th t flt tt vl vlty hyth.H h l vl gl thtcl , ch th cltl--blgcl-cc

hyth, whch tht h bg t t bhv wy tht xz th tt ft gt.

S f h c b f h wbt, WllI.t. Thy cl The IntertwinedRoles of Genes and Culture in Human Evolution, How Did Morality Evolve? Religion as aHard-to-Fake Sign of Commitment.



Continued p. 36

Dr. Irons, what is an evolutionary anthropologist?A vlty thlgt, I tt th vlt

f h cl bhv. Bt t b ctgy. Y c b vlty thlgt wh tt fl vc f thg f b-l, f xl. I hv t hv lbl t lt lkw wht I g, tht th Iv c wth. Th lbl t whlly cct; thy jt hy wy t thw ylf t tl bx.

Is there a standard definition for culture in your field?Alt thg h b tz thlgy. Of c

th l wh wl cl th tcl ft tht. Bt t cl. Th bclly tw ft f clt.Th I gw wth : vt tht th lt f blty tybl, wh ybl vb, t lt thg t fth. W cq ft thgh yblc cct.Th cllctv by f tht ft clt.

Th th ft f clt cl t ly th ft,bt l th bhv tht lt f t. Bk wl b c

clt, thy ct f yblc bhv. Th tvw wlb c clt, ccg t th c ft. Bt ccgt th w ft ft, th tvw wl b cft ly. I g wth th w ft bc t t lytclly.

In your review ofno By Gs Alo: Ho culu tasfomdHuma eoluoby Peter Richerson and Robert Boyd, you wrotethat their theory states that culture became prominent in humanevolution because it allowed relatively rapid adaptation to changing

environments by means of imitation. Do you agree?I tht w fct. Hw tg t w, I t kw. I t

thk t w th y . I hv fft thy. I thk th clt vlv w tht t llw l t f lg, chv cl g.

For what purpose?

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ct wth th g.Th t bg g lct thgh th bck

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gt g lct. Bt th th f f lct, clg klct, hvt b lt.

If culture partly evolved because imitation is a faster means oflearningof information processingthan genetic or individualearning, would you then say that culture is, in part, an informationtechnology in that it allows for a more rapid processing?

Tht w h I hvt thght t thgh, bt t g (lgh). Bt t t jt tt. W ft thwy. A I lk t y tht gtc vlt th w t .

Which came first, language or culture? Or does anyone really know?

I t thk y lly kw. It k f h t g cltwtht k lgg. A t h t kw wh k lggft vlv. All h lt hv th lgtccblt. A ll lgg bclly qlly bl t cvyft.

You wrote about the function of morality and religion in culture. Whais the primary function?

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f cty th th y hv t tk tht t cct.I y tcl Rlg H-t-Fk Sg f Ctt

[t WllI.t], I tk Rch Schllg h-t-fk gl. Rlg ybl y c ly , c t gl f lylty tht h t fk. If gl y t fk, th yct ly t. Mt l bl t thgh fk gl. Alg lt, y wy, t lty bc lg llyct c f lty. Bt w t wt t vlfy, bcth c f lty th blf f lg lwy tPl gg chgg t clg tht thyt chgg wh thy .

How does that sit with you? As things grew more complex, we added

codes. We had moral codes, then religious, then we added legal codesbecause the Ten Commandments say nothing about parking meters.Wll, th kg l wl b xt f lv thy ghb,

cb wth h t tht y, I (lgh).

So legal codes are an extension of that ongoing attempt to generategroup cohesion?

Y. A g, l wfl th th thygt th ty t jggl th c th fv. Thy t ct t wht thy g. Thy y t f th g f ctyTh g lct ct bly l byth fct tht w t t y tht t f th g f cty. S



Gods Non-Existence Makes SenseThe compelling evidence from logic, evil, and scriptureExct fA Crisis of Faith: Atheism, Emerging Technologies, and the Future of Humanityby Phil Torres

Arrival and Orientation by Lc Sgll

My thk ty hl th gt f vl t b th t wfl Athtc

gt . It bg wth tw l t. Th ft tht thwl fll f vl ffg; th tbl fct. Th c thtg ( ttlly f) bvlt (fctly l) bg whl ct tt. Th tht th tw t

ctcty, th ctct v tg vc f g t xtg. Bclly, f gc ythg h wt, f h kw bt vy lt bt f gy, f h lly llyfct, th hw cl h t t th vl ffg tht vl ? I c y f ylf lly fct bgtht f I h th t f cc tc, I wllt th tbl f th wl t.After all, what sort of person would I be if I didnt?

Photo from Wiki Commons



Th bt t th gt g fllw: wl whch h bg hvf wll btt wl th whchw t. Bt jt h bg gv f wll, w cq th blty t vl.Th, th vl ffg by-ct f f wll, whch by tlf gthg. It fllw tht g t wt th wlt b wh ffg; th jt

th vbl ct f gvg f wll.I f th ct-gt cvcg.

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lft.A lg bl wth ct tg lty. I Pltc lg cllEuthyphro, Sct fly k whththg because g lv t, whth g lv t because t . Bth

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Ath bl wth th t bv tht, ccg t th

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thy wt b tt gflctgbf g f tty. It fllw tht vl ffg cl b blh wthtcg f wll ft ll! Th, f glly lly fct bg, th whyht h th f Eth wll?

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Flly, th vy g fthkg tht f wll ll. I thw f ctt S H, Th ly ct f tl hyclct tht llw f [th] f thtw hbtlly cl f lv cbt th.2 O c fllw gl gl f y g (whch hw w kctct wth th xtl wl) thgh b bck t cl (whch wht

w t tct wth th wl). Th gltvl lg cctt f bkc, f t th xt. Scth cct gl, t cl wh xctlyf wll cl bly t th ct thght bhv thg

th th ct f ch ctvtgth ly clx twk fbbltc cct.

A t h, y Cht thlv t hl tht f wll lly. Fxl, lg l ft y thtg wll wy th ht f -blv. I

hv h y Cht f flyb y tht g wll y ht fJ t t. Bt thk bt th: wh c y tht y wll f f t c bflc by tl fc cllby h tt? If w hv bltf wll, th yg tht g wll chg bhv tly ftl.

Fth, th Bbl tlf t

vl tc wh g cch th f wll f vl th ct ccc wth h w lEx 10:1, f xl, tt, Th thL t M, G t Phh, f Ihv h h ht th ht f hffcl tht I y f th gf g th. Th t Ex 10:20, 10:27, 11:9-10. It lt cl tht Pt w xcg h f wlwh h J th t bf tht cw, jt J h ctTh cl b f J; w hbtyl f J fly ch ct, wt t f g ccv l t vhty f t ?

I ft w chl whth Stth g f th wl (2 C. 4:4), h fwll. Th t vw tht St flych t bl gt g, tht th whyg thw h t f hv. Th, St hf wll. Th bl wth th tht thBk f Rvlt k y qt cfcct bt wht St wll thft bt th tbl thg tht wl

h lt. Th, f w ly kwwht St wll , th wht Stlly f?

Fth, f h t f t ll f thg th th wht thBk f Rvlt y hll , th wht

th tll bt g? It tl tht g t t llg tg t whch St ttcht ggt tht St hv ctl v ll h ct, c f th ct hv ly b t( c Rvlt).

Bf vg , w hl t thContinued p. 37

If we have absolute free will,then praying that god will change someones behavior

is entirely futile.



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It ftt f wht Jh All

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A ctcl cqc tht thwh bl t jg, v thk bt,

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I thk tht llg tht yth qly gtl l bt th z f thv, qg thg th clclt f w.

Millions and Billions

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lltt, lt lk t ll f thgSthg y t t. Lk c.

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by Rick WingroveCOUNTS!

Alt f ly lg l, ctt t lv cct,

h-ct v, bl t lgly tt th blty t th.



S thught it was turtls

all the way down.

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hy. Th t t, Alh Ct t tc f 4.3 lght y, wl b lghtly

ll bch bll, Syy, Atl, 12,440l wy. Dvg t t 60 l h:47.6 ll y. If y w clg, t wl tll tk y y hlf tv th.

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v 12 bll y t gt th.If th w g f , th t

glxy wl fll Olyc-zwg l. If glxy w g , th glx wl fll vl Olycz wg l.

From Where We SitF wh w t, w c wll v

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S, y c , th v , ctfc t, fk hg!

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l ltv tc t. I lly t f ylf h by t; I f t

th t fctg thg gbl.

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Rck Wgv th lyt ghct f th gz Ac AthtVg tt ct.



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t v f g, h, v vvl f c.

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kw hf yclbly hv thght tht h hlhv b t. (S th wbt f y bt.)

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th ct y, , t hvv h ht. Bt h w wllg ttk th chc tht th tbl bfh ght fct gtly ll bt f hl

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w . Bt t ly h ccth l gv Ac Atht gctbt t t h wll-cv tltg tlk (t ll h lt wqllyhappy bt wht h ).

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Paul KurtzDecember 21, 1925 October 20, 2012American Atheists Former President Remembers the Founder of theCouncil for Secular Humanism - by Ed Buckner

He felt deep compassion for the poor and the

suffering, and not just for those hurt or destroyed

by religion, much as that enraged him.Paul Kurtz



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Hlly Sl w fv th gt wh h h hb

wt t th htl f lt. Bt, h , th tchlgtw ctg cly. Sh kt g tff v v, Hlly. I k h wht w wg, bt t wt h jb t tll .

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t, I t l lg. I h b -lg ywhl lf. It v v c y tht t cl hl t.Hlly h f f wf tht t h b w

ly vl. Cl wth th gtc fct, h wlvv.

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bly thk hv wl b lk f h. Thy ll wt t tll hw thy w h w w hv hvg g ftlf, bt h th tl.

Pl tl Hlly y thg bt h xc, clly thtycl cftg ttt: H btt lc w It wt f G l tht G (f whtv ) Eth.Sh jt g th ttt t ft. Sh kw thy t wll. Thtty t tl fw y lt, wh h gth thgtht Hlly clt g.

Sh f t I w Atht -l . Sh h kwtht I h t blv hv bc I wt t y g. Sh

ReligionandGriefAt f Dv G. McAf w bk, Mom, Dad, Im

and Atheist: The Guide to Coming Out as a Non-Believer,blh by Dg Lttl Bk

Continued p. 3



Catholic Encyclopedia (From p. 11)

wll g f t blv. Ay cf Cht salvation th Cttt .

Noahs Ark. I t Dlg tcl, CE-TN cl G t f fty y,cg lt (th w, t )wlw fl. I t f hty,CE-TN t th f wlwfl cvg th t th h bb (157). Scc!

Yt CE-TN h ctv f tlf lt: G fl w f x ltvvlty ll k h xctth th k f Nh c th c fh h t by th g(157). All Homo sapiens f Afc ct.Th h b v. Th CE-TNcl wll c f c ct (lyA Ev) gtg Mt.

Th, CE-TN cl tht vlt tb ( jt thy - t ytv, ct g 202).

G f h ,y y k? Th CE-TN cl t wht f th wck ft thy flt t f fg th fG f ct (157).

Absurd EdictsTh Chch h lg hty f ccltclct f cl tt g, ft wth h v gcl cqc.

Celibacy. CE-TN f t clbcy ccltcl lw (100). N y bc , th chchfb th hly t y, tgg xl ctvty. O t wwhy th clgy ct G G 1:28, t b ftfl, ltly.Ab, clly ctcty t h

t, y. Bt th w t lwy thc. Bf th fth cty, Chtl w llw t hv tclth, xl tc (gasp!), v y. Th Ccl f Elv (305CE) ft tht chch clc clbt. It th ly ft whl, lt fgtt.Th R, 386 CE, th Chchffclly ct tht x t lw. Th CE-TN ct I Cth 7:32 , wll Mtthw 19:11-12.

Wht fllw, f c, w ct fttt-l, xlly ftt twh wl lt th ( lkly,ll) f ct chl - th f Cht ght ghtly y wth th305 CE ccltcl Elvl ct bg tht f th tcl Cht vl.

Forgeries. Th cy Cht clc c y fltct v th ct t gt ththty g ty wlth. CE-TNv tcl th Fl Dctlf P-I, bt ttly cgg th f th Dctl,clg thy w chfly ttck th thty f th (155).Qt th t t: th Dctl wfg l ltt f th ghth cty;th Chch ct th t cl

lt thty all matters, ttv glbl lc v f vlt .7

Dark Ages. Th tbl t w k, bg c by thg l thth f th v Cht ctl.Shtly ft Chtty w clth ly lgl lg f th E thfth cty, lg tht b

bk by th ll. Rg w b,wtch w , R ctyly lt t by f l kwlgbl gg cc. Cht lwv c bthg, bg kf vty.8 Th CE-TN, hwv, cltht Cthlc ccl th tly cll th Ag f Fth (151).Faithwl xl t darkness.

Crusades. Th Cht jggttlly cl tht th ly good-Cht dead -Cht.Th CE-TN cl th C w

j lty xt tk f xlt , lt tht thyfl t v Plt. Hwv, thyw g thg, thy cg tvl cc, b th tlk fE, ft lg. I k y,I fostering religion g thg? It ;J, Bh, yb. Ch tty?

Accg t th CE-TN, t w thg th Et ch tt thtc f htcl tchg t th Wt(145-146). Tht ght, htcl tchg

- yt f blf blf tht w tCht.

Theater of the AbsurdLk th Bbl, CE-TN bc, ChlLtwg Dg c, c c, wll , ght yhl hl, clly wh f t t t. H f th lghbl vt.

Humanism. I ly c ylf Ht. S I w tlly thll tcv tht CE-TN v. It clth [c] f h... tht tglct Cht vlt, g thcty f Cht c cg, k v ly h w .Atly, H l G th f lf wh G t

(277). Wh I cft wth th, th evidence f g, I lwy hvt k, Which one?

Short Prayers. Th t jcltccg t CE-TN th f hffctv y f fw w - .g.J, I lv Y (184). A wht affective prayer? Wll, t cl f tl th intellectual tv (25)

It tht lg y hv tllcttv - h Mtthw21:22, whtv y hll k yblvg , y hll cv. Stck yt c y wh: th Cht ctyvg ch. Wht l f lfh chlh bllht; I blv I hll tck wthjclt f th cl, blgcl t.Adam and Eve. A wk f chlh, CE-TN lt tht w kw wh th G f E w lctbt t lc wh lg th lEht Rv (183). CE-TN ff

vc f th t. My g thE lct vy Jck btlk.Age of Enlightenment. Th CE-TN cltht th tc f th Elghtt w f lgcl tht w tl lt wth tht ly th fcl tchg f th Chch c cbffctvly (190). Ig: Cthlctht g th w lt. Ythk thy wl t cl f t.Pious Obstinacy. Th CE-TN tt (202)tht ...th thy f vlt...

Salvation in the First Amendment? Methinks not. Withoutdoubt my favorite amendment is a separation, a great wall.



Seth Andrews Deconverted (From p. 9)

theory. However, should proof be eventuallyproduced, the teaching of Genesis and itsinspired narrative would remain, for it tellsthat the world was created for human beingsand that human beings themselves came fromGod... Against its own self-righteous dogma,the same book also claims that deliberateresistance to the known truth is a sin againstthe Holy Spirit(555)!

Conclusion

It is risible that this book calls itself anencyclopedia. Do Catholics really buyinto this crap? Yes, even officially. The bookbears the noble Nihil Obstat and Imprimaturseals of the Catholic Church. So it must holdnothing but infallible truths.

References

Catholic Encyclopedia, First Edition. TheEncyclopedia Press, 1907-1913.

Gasquet, Amde, Essai Sur le Culte et les

Mystres de Mithra. Boston: Adamant Media,2006. Haught, James A., Holy Horrors. Amherst,NY: Prometheus Books, 2002. Marcus, Jacob Rader, and Marc Saperstein,The Jew in the Medieval World: A Source Book,315-1791. Hebrew Union College Press,1999. Mead, G.R.S., and Edward Clary, TheMysteries of Mithras . Sequim: Holmes, 2004.

Prtner, Rudolf, Mit dem Fahrstuhl in dieRmerzeit. Munich: Knaur, 1967. Smith, David Whitten, and Elizabeth

Geraldine Burr, Understanding WorldReligions: A Road Map for Justice and Peace.Lanham: Rowman and Littlefield, 2007. Smith, Homer W., Man and His Gods. NewYork: Grosset & Dunlap, 1957.

Endotes

1. Gasquet, 84-86.2. Mead, 20.3. Catholic Encyclopedia, 1907-1913, Canon I,

Exposition of the Catholic Faith and of theDogma of Transubstantiation, vol. 9, p. 18.

4. Haught, 43.5. Marcus, 169.

6. David Whitten Smith, 63.7. Catholic Encyclopedia, 1907-1913, vol. 5,773-780.

8. Homer Smith, 228.

Michael Paulkovich is an aerospace engineerwho, in addition to authoring this series,contributes to Free Inquiry and The AmericanRationalist. Eschewing dogma and myth, hiswork is full of hope for the world to replaceancient cult beliefs with more and morefreethought.

Deconverted is available as a paperback from BarnesAndNoble.com andAmazon and as a download on Nook and Kindle. The audio book is on AudibleCom and iTunes.

The Thinking Atheist Radio Podcast airs Tuesdays at 6:00 p.m., Central Time. Goto TheThinkingAtheist.com to hear the podcast, read Seths blog, watch his videosand participate in the forum.

Seth Andrews and Jesus at Reason Rally

I completely understand howdifficult it must be for a parent tospend so much time and so manyresources in a genuine attempt to

protect a beloved child from hell.



Science Interview(From p. 27)

c , t. A th thRbt Tv tht w t t cvlv t btt cv th. Sth Rblc wh g tht lw txf th ch g f vyby lly blv wht thy yg.

We know that human behavior and culturerest on a biological foundation with varying

degrees of latitude. Thats the sociobiologypremise, but what about culture feeding backon biology?

My wll t l,bt I thk t . Clt ct ftvt th gg t b fftlctv . Ill tk th xl fStv Pk bk, The Better Angels ofOur Nature: Why Violence has Declined.Pk k f w vlv gtclly t bt. It w , wht tb, th t lt f vc yttcllygth t vlt t. Bt tht t t fl. I thk t lt ctly t. It hw w cl g thgh th hgtft vt wthtchg lctv . A tht ggt b f th; w gg t b t.

I wt t f t th tlt fllcyh. If w ct g tht, gv thhty f th ct, t t w, thy tll ttl t th lvl fgty w th ght bcthy, t, h bg. A tht y btgh c.

What is the naturalistic fallacy?

Bclly t th t tht th fcttht thg tl t tll yythg bt t l qlt. It c bl, l, tly jt tkw. Mlty c f l ggwth th ttt t wk t c bt hw t bhv. A th c thty b th t ffctv hlg ctytgth y t b th tht cgll f th tl bhv. Bt t v clct th tht, bc y f tl tc cflct wth th. W k f t th t w t

bc t f cty. W tl tc whl cggth, bt th tht w tg wy. Thy c g, wh thy ,thy y b clly tctv, whch cw wl bbly cll th l.

Did you like Robert Trivers The Folly of Fools?Y, bt th t- t gg

t lk t. If y t thk bt t, t ttg bk. I kw h, h h fftwy f g th wl h thg thtth l . Bt thy lly th.

You define the evolutionary concept of mismatchas the failure of evolved adaptations to dealeffectively with environmental novelty. Can

you elaborate?Th lt f tch. Mtch

wh y bhv ct wy bc th t y ct g ctvvtg by bhvg tht wy. Bt bcth vt fft w, tht wy f

bhvg lg wk. Lt th bk by L Ck, That ComplexWhole. H w gt tt f wh w t Rtg. H ty wth Tv Jc tht yl t hwg tht wh btt c hv btt tg cc.It ct, tht t g.

It appears that religion and its influence inthis country is waning, and we might needsome cohesive agents. Would you care tospeculate on what might replace religion?

I t kw wht ght lc t. Bt th

tht y ct b l f y t ff g hg y t vl. I t thkl wll ly l th l f thyt blvg g. Y c b ccbt th wlf f th f thth bg cctbl t vbl wl.Hw thyll flt wht thy g g qt. L k f hlh, Ig. Nt th hvy hlhy thy tch hlhy cl. Th lt f htg tht tyg t w tht qtby yg c, W t blv lg, h wht w blv t thttll hw t lv l hw t

c wth lf bl.I th bk, Sacred and Secular, Rl

Eglht P N bv thtl bc l lg qlty fhlth v, vty cl, lfxctcy c. S f lg t thvt hl t hv ck, , fght lf tht thy gg t . A thy hvt t bck t , cty by cty. Itth c t, bt I thk thy cct.A lv bc c, w fll f lg. Tht ychlgclh tht l. W ll vtlly

, tht t . Bt I t thtlg ll th wfl thg tht tcl.

C Atk th ct t fPtGtc.c, whch thvlt f cw, ct, vl-c, t-gtc ctgt wth tchlgy t hl vgt th xtl c cltlclxty lty gl.

Grief Beyond Belief lt twk f lgvg th th f chl,t, t, th lv ,

wtht blf hgh w

y f f ftlf. Atht,gtc, ht, fthk y l lvg wthtlg blf vt ttct. Gf By Blf

w lch by Rbcc Hlft th th f h th-th-l . G t Fcbk.c/FthFGfSt.

y Ath w jt h, Hllycll. Sh h th thg h th ft . I clt hl bt thk tht h b th 40 y c hlt h , vy y h tblv h gg t h hv. Ih b ly fv y c I lt Eth I v l cft ywt y. I fl lk -lg gvc llw y t l wth th htly.

Hlly wt t l bt hw why th h t h . I kth wf t xl t bt hcl, Hlly . I w cf t blv tht h lly h chcThy tl th cc bh why hclt hv lv, bt hw hblh lf wl hv b f h h.

If ythg, th xc fc hAth. Sh kw tht ll-lvg

ll-wfl g wl llw th ty jtc, t jt f h, bt f th ll l tt th wl

Hlly tht wth th clxt lg tyl f ftlf, g -bth chl hv, th tllgwhth t tht wl v b gthg. Wl h b ft hv? Wlh gw? Wh wl c f h? Wlh g t hll?

Whl f tht t h, thctfc hl h thgh thgf. I th , wht lly hl Hlly

w th lgcl xlt f h gtc blt, t th fl htht lg ff.

Religion and Grief(From p. 33)



Gods Non-Existence (From p. 29)

th bl by vl th wl tly Hw cl g llwany tc fffg? bt Hw cl g llw everych tc? Tht t y, ch f thvl ffg th wl t btly gtt ( cy). Cth thlgcl tct btw l tl vl. Th ft f t tt thtlt f ttl h ct. Evlch th Hlct, th lvt fAfc, th l f ght t w hxl ll fll th ctgy fl vl.

I ctt, th c ctgy clvl f whch ttl l gt bl. Ethqk, bth fct, b t ll tl cf h ffg.3 (Th why tlt cll ct f G.) Th hy t ch vt, twl b h t g tht bl wl

wtht thqk, bth fct, bt wl b worse wl th ctl . Th, th t ffclt t fth gt f vl xlg hw bvlt G wh bth ct tt cl llw chgratuitous ffg lg t f whch c by h by ctl.

Is God Just?Ath gt gt th xtc f

g ( ttlly f4) cc tht f jtc tht g wl l wl jgt

y.5

Lt bg wth th qt: wht th t f th ftlf wht th f hv hll? Accg tth Cht lgt Dh DSz,hv hll bt cc jtc, th ttlg f thly cct. Th tht bc th t y jtc th lf,w hv th ftlf t v thg t. Evll lk Htl Stl bg hllfv ht f th hfc cgt hty. Cc jtc v l l c l btt t ght.

Th bl h tht g t

l t th tl fl bc f thl bhv Eth. Tht t y, cosmicjustice isnt divine justice. Rth, g tlt th g f th Bbl l t hllf cttg (wth xct cblw) ly c: th c fblf. A Jh 1:12 y, Bt t all whhv cv hth wh blv h h h gv th ght t bcG chl (tlc ). A Jh 3:18tt, Th wh blv H t

c. Th wh t blvh b c ly, bc h ht blv th f th lyS f G. Th, t t tt whthyv , , tt .It t tt f y t cttbl f gc. All tht tt whth t y cly blv J, t tht y , k ffgv. If Htl h cly k Jt h ht bf yg, th h wlvb fgv tt t .Th xctly wht h t f thcl ccf xt t Jh t w v.

Th qt tht tbl c

I w chl th: v jtc lly k f jtc t ll? It t b bth

bty cc t t t v thg t (lly kg) t ll, DSz ggt. Th bl w t ftl cl f jtc, ly thtth ht f c t ft th c,jt th w f t f t th. I th w, th t b g f proportionality btw ct cqc. Gvg t lf tcf jywlkg ly fg f fl f jtc cly bcth cqc tt t thct.

Nt ly blfcllywh t c, y w ctly tt t t, btt tl whl lv h Eth t. Th hw cl ftht ft w blyb tl t wht ftt f t? It ttly jt t l t hv hll f v v (Rvlt 14:11) bc f whtthy blv ft ly (y) xty vty

y. (Obvly, th y l wh yg, th t hv ch t tc f thlv whch lg, f y th t lg. Th flyf.)

It l wth tg tht th Bbl tttht unpardonable. A J cl th Gl f Mk, Aly, I y t yll wll b fgv th f , whtv blh thy y tt; bh wh blh gt th Hly Sv h fgv, bt bjct t tct (3:22-30). Th ht h f bc wh I w 14 15 y l, Iw thkg bt th bl f vl t kwg tht cg th Hly St blI c th Hly St.

Nw, l J t thg thth wht h ltlly ( t tht ht y qlfct t h clh t y tht th xct f

t lct), I cl ff thblty f gg t hv f ylf lgg. Th why I tll Cht t t yf y l. Ev f I w t blv (cg) tht th Bbl th w f g, I tlwlt gt thgh th ly gt. I ly fgv bt fgvbl.

A Crisis of Faith vlbl t Azc. F ft, g tACOf FthThBk .c. Phl Th t g cc fB Uvty, ctly

Afflt Schl t th Ittt f Ethc Egg Tchlg. H blh tcl jl ch Erkenntnis, Metaphilosophy thJournaof Evolution and Technology.

Endnotes1. Mchl My Mchl R, AnIntroduction to the Philosophy of Religion(Cbg Uvty P, 2008), . 247.

2. SH.g/blg/t/th-ytyf-cc

3. Obvly, bth fct cby h ct. Th t tht t.

4. Myb g t g, bt vl. Why t?

5. Althgh I thkg cfclly bChtty h, th gt cl lyjt wll t y th lg.

If the rules of logic

constrain god,then who came upwith these rulesin the first place?



I Jly, th Okl Z, blc ttt wby th Cty f Okl, Clf, v x-ft t t th T Ct ctby th Ftl O f Egl 1966, wh thl w tt k. Th z ct vtby f y tt chl by th Et ByAtht Ath t Avct f S Fcc. Th tt wgz ft Jy Pctll, th Nth Clf ctf th Svv Ntwk f th Ab by Pt (SNAP)ctct Ly Hck, Ac Atht Clf tt ct.

Pctll h ft fl clt t th z 2008 ftcg t hl h ght wg cl vt fclty th g. H v tc th by t wh h ftt th fclty bc h w ly hw th v t th g t f th xt. By th t h lbt th T Ct, t w t lt t f lttv, th z v t h clt.

Wh h ctly c t t th v g , h cv

th t tll lc. Th t h flly clt cty ffcl wll t th z. Th ly ly hcv w f ty cty tty, wh cl cS Ct c gg l t Txtct th t th z. Rgl f lgl , th ztt v th t. Exctv Dct J

Ptt tl th S Fcc Chcl tht th z h ctllyc bt t y g tht th lg t h lc th g tht thy h b lg t v t.

Whth t th vl t w flly t ly bc th tt l, whth t th cty tty w cct clg th t ctttlty, th btt l tht x-ft lb f gt, wth th th t lg, h b lt f gvt l. Th z ffc f vg th T Ct w t b tv tth cty, t b clv. Ac Atht lth Okl Z bl , whch hw, c g, whychch/tt t th bt thg f vy.

Rlasd fr th Z, ths Tn Candnts

Hav a Chanc t Find thir Natural Habitat

Stat Dirctrs Sptlight

by Larr y Hicock, California State Director

Photo by Joey Piscitelli



Wll Nw f Oh, Nbk, th f f th Oh Clt f R. H wl th c-g f ltt clg My 3, 2012, Dy f R Oh. Wll w Cthlc, bt tt th tw Ath th lt ght. H b ly

Atht wth h b cwk f th lt v y wth h fly f lt lg. Av h t, h h b th vlt gcy ct f At R EgcySvc Nbk Dgl Sy Ct f vl y. Ctct Wll t [email protected].

Mchl D w tt ct Nw Yk. Mchl lg-t b f AcAtht ff lt, Nw Yk Cty Atht (NYC-Atht.g ), wh c fh h ht f th t f y. Mchl l flk ctly wkg th

cty A C t B bt Ac Atht lwt v th lct f th G ZC th Ntl 9/11 M.A Nw Yk tt ct, I h t gg l f ll bckg bttv lg btth ccl tc f chch/tt t, cvl ght f blv, th Ft At.Ptg lc fct, vc, t t l t cl btth hycl wl cg th y lf. I l ly ctt t hg th tl

thkg tht hw ct t ffct blc lcy th g.Bth th cv f th th ht f T Sq bllb (g 24-25) w htghby Mchl. Ctct h t MD @tht.g.

Sctt Svg, Alb tt ct, h v t Gg wll th tt ct tth. H lc Al Stfll, wh h g f l . W thk Al f h vc lk fw t g h xt bk. W l thk Ew Hly Ktcky f h tw y f

vc. H t w tt ct t t lcl ctv th Lvll. Ctct Sctt Svg t [email protected].

If y y kw wl lk t vlt tt gl ct, l ctct K Lk t [email protected].

Nw Stat DirctrsIn Nebraska, New York, and Alabama



Ac Atht, gzt bt kw f tkg h tc th fght f th cvl lbt f tht, w fghtg f th ft f lt. I bl v, th

gzt c ty, th tllt f th GgWtly Sl Ay th f f t hqt Cf,NJ. Nt ly wll th l y gt 100% f th lctcl f th ffc, t wll l c l f gy.

Th tl lctcty wll b l bck t th lcl lctccy, gtg v f th Ac Atht Lgl F. Pt Dv Slv tt, "A tht, w t

AmeRICAN ATHeISTS GoeS GReeN

that th blty t k tv chg wl lwth , t tl fc ty. W tk th ttw btt ft wth gt ." T McB, Pblc Rlt Dct , "AcAtht ct t th b f fthght gzt th wl. I kg th tt t l gy, h tht th wll fllw t t hl tct lt f gt

t c."Ac Atht bl t k th tt t clgy lty thgh g gft f th tt f GgWtly. Th y bc tl -Nvb, 2012.

George Watley Solar Array

NeW LIFe memBeRS

SILVeRLIFeI

th t fw th, v Ac Atht b c th ctt by bcg Lft St bygg th Lft St bh! Thk t w g Lft St f th gfctctt t gzt f th ct t. Sc lt f th gz, th fllwg b hv

c t c th ctt t Ac Atht fth t h gl vl:

Bettye GossardHarvey GossardRaul Martinez

Amita SharmaRobert Wright IIIEmmy Johnston

Christopher BohnMary Fleming

GoLD PLATINUm

David Reichert

President David Silverman



A PEACEFUL WORLD

BEYOND RELIGION

AWAITS YOU

Christianity comes from the myth of Mithra,

a Persian savior god born to a virgin on

December 25. The story of Moses comes

from the Legends of Sargon I, King of

Akkad. The extensive hieroglyph records of

ancient Egypt have no mention of Moses

leading over 600,000 people away from

Pharaohs army. Joseph Smith was convicted

of fraud shortly after capturing the golden

tablets. Learn about all this and more.

Beyond All Religion, a new book by Sam

Butler, is available at Amazon.com or by

sending $9.95 to: Sam Butler,

SB 197, POB 25292, Miami, FL, 33102.

A

merican Atheist w th hlv f 200 B Nbl t tw. Pl f

y by t. Al, f y t t cy t,y t g t th ct vc k k th tcy t.

Th k th ft t th w ATHEIST thhlv f th gz ck, fcg t, f ll t . It

wll vl t th gz f th lcl ff lt, thlcl t, Ac Atht. W c ll c, hl t th Clgy Pjct, lgtcy t thvt th whl. Th tk bg t cl tlzt.

Progress is fun!

At Barnes & Noble in Cincinnati, Ohio

From the author of the Dogma Watch series in this magazine

Religion, especially Christianity, has enjoyedunwarranted respect for far too long. Jesus didsay a few nice things, but he was no humble orwise prophet. How do we know?

Its in the Bible.

Available in hardcover, paperback, and e-book

NoMeekMessiah.com

On the Shelf



American Atheists AffiliatesALASKA

Alk Atht

ALABAMAAlb Atht & Agtc (UA)Ab Atht & Agtc

Bgh Atht MtMhll Cty Atht & AgtcMtgy A Fthght ActNth Alb Fthght ActUAH N-Tht

ARKANSASAk Scty f FthkAk-L-Tx Fthk, Atht,Agtc & Ht

ARIZONATc Atht

CALIFORNIA (North)Atht Avct f S Fcc

Atht Oth FthkCt Ct Atht & FthkEt By AthtS Fcc AthtSt Cz Atht

CALIFORNIA (South)Atht Clt f S DgBcky SktcHt Scty f St BbNw Atht f Et CtyOg Cty Atht

COLORADOBl Atht

Wt Cl Atht & Fthk

CONNECTICUTAtht Ht Scty f CT RI

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIAWhgt A Scl Ht

FLORIDAFlorida Atheists & SecularHumanists (FLASH)Gt Fthght (UF)Rbth f RScl Stt Act tUv. f Ctl FlSt. Ptbg Atht Fthght GTllh AthtT Ct Atht

GEORGIAAtlt Fthght SctyBlck Nblv f AtltFytt Fthght SctyKw Stt U. Stt Clt f IqyMc Atht & Scl Ht

IOWAAtht Ut f Rtl AcIowa Atheists & Freethinkers

ILLINOISTh Chcg Fthght PjctIL/WI Sttl Atht SctyIWU Atht, Agtc, N-RlgTh Scl Sgt

KANSASK Cty Atht CltUvty f K Scty f O-M Atht Agtc

KENTUCKYHt F f Ctl KtckyLxgt AthtLvll Atht Fthk

LOUISIANANw Ol Scl Ht Act

MASSACHUSETTSAtht f Gt LwllBt Atht

MARYLANDFthk U t McDl CllgSktc Fthk Agtc

Atht (k Myl Fthk)

MICHIGANAtht @ Okl UvtyMchg AthtM-Mchg Atht & Ht

MINNESOTAAtht f H RghtC Atht Sktc & HtMinnesota Atheists

MISSOURIBlck Fthk f K CtyClb Atht

Jl FthkRtlt Scty f St. LScl Stt Allc @ UCMOSgfl FthkSt. Jh Sktc

MISSISSIPPIGt Sth Ht SctyHt Ethcl AthtRtl Thght Scty

NORTH CAROLINA

A-NwNORTH DAKOTAR Rv Fthk

NEBRASKALcl AthtOh Atht

NEW JERSEYNw Jy Ht NtwkScl Stt Allc @ Mtcl Stt Uv

NEVADAR Fthk

NEW YORKH Vlly HtNw Yk Cty Atht

Wtcht Atht

OHIO

F Iqy GFthght DytHt Cty f Ctl OhM-Oh Atht

OKLAHOMAOklh Atht

Atht Cty f Tl

PENNSYLVANIANthEt Pylv Fthght SctyPA Non-Believers*

SOUTH CAROLINAPt HtScl Ht f th Lwcty

TENNESSEEMh Fthght AllcNhvll Scl LfRtlt f Et T

TEXASAtht Cty f AtDt AthtFthk Act f Ctl TxFthght O f AllGl Tgl FthkHt AthtKgw Hbl Atcct AthtLbbck Atht

UTAHAtht f UthSlt Lk Vlly Atht

VIRGINIABltwy AthtNOVA Atht

WASHINGTONSttl AthtT-Cty Fthk

WISCONSINSth Wc FThk

WEST VIRGINIAMgtw Atht

US NATIONALAtht NxBlck Atht f AcMlty Act f Atht & Fthk

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American Atheist Magazine First Quarter 2013

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